Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Armed forces personnel as a share of total population was 0.7% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in United Arab Emirates, 1985–2020
Source: The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, armed forces personnel as a share of total population in United Arab Emirates stood at 0.7%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 9.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel as a share of total population in United Arab Emirates peaked at 3.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 2020.
That places United Arab Emirates 42nd out of 173 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.8% | 2.4% | 3.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 2.6% | 2.0% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.2% | 0.8% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More reference data data for United Arab Emirates
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.54 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.7516 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.2042 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 0 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.8201 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.794 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 123.74 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 0 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 0 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel as a share of total population in United Arab Emirates?
- Armed forces personnel as a share of total population in United Arab Emirates was 0.7% in 2020, according to The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel as a share of total population recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 3.5% in 1990.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel as a share of total population recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 2020.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for armed forces personnel as a share of total population?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 42nd out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Armed forces personnel as a share of total population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if their training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.